A viral video has exposed a shocking roadside assault where a foreign driver allegedly slapped a Thai motorist during a heated confrontation on Phuket’s Bypass Road. The footage, spreading rapidly across Thai social media, shows the muscular foreigner suddenly striking the smaller Thai driver’s face with enough force to knock him down.

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According to victim Saroj Pongmanee, the altercation began when the unidentified foreigner dangerously cut off his minivan near Rassada. After both vehicles pulled over, what started as a verbal exchange turned physical without warning. “I just told him to drive more carefully,” Saroj explained from Phuket City Police Station, where he filed charges. “Next thing I knew, I was on the ground.”

Police confirm they’re analyzing dashcam footage and searching for the suspect, described as a tall Caucasian male driving a white pickup truck. The case highlights growing tensions between locals and foreign drivers in Thailand’s tourist hotspots, coming just weeks after a similar incident in Pattaya.

Hot-headed foreigner lashes out at Thai motorist in Phuket after road traffic incident on Sunday night https://t.co/lpNdeOkOni

— Jay (@jay_krungthep) April 8, 2025

Hospital reports indicate Saroj suffered facial bruising and whiplash from the fall. Meanwhile, netizens have launched a digital manhunt, with the attacker’s photo circulating widely online. Under Thai law, the foreigner could face assault charges carrying up to 2 years imprisonment if apprehended.

Authorities warn against vigilante justice while urging witnesses to come forward. “We’re checking all surveillance cameras along the route,” said Phuket Police Chief Colonel Teeraphol Thipjaroen. “This kind of violence against Thais won’t be tolerated.”

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The incident has reignited debates about tourist behavior, with local business owners calling for mandatory road safety briefings for foreign drivers. As police continue their search, many wonder if the suspect has already fled the island – or if he’ll become the latest foreign national to learn Thailand’s laws apply equally to everyone.

-Thailand News (TN)